Nature Reserve sights in Europe
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Ards Forest Park
Anyone looking to stretch their legs will love this forested park, which is criss-crossed by marked nature trails varying in length from 2km to 13km. It covers the northern shore of the Ards Peninsula and some of the best walks lead to its clean beaches. The woodlands are home to several native species, including ash, birch and sessile oak. Introduced species, both broadleaf and conifer, also proliferate, and you may even encounter foxes, hedgehogs and otters. In 1930 the southern part of the peninsula was taken over by Capuchin monks; the grounds of their friary are open to the public. It's 5km southeast of Dunfanaghy off the N56; daily closing times are posted at the en…
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Connemara National Park
Immediately southeast of Letterfrack, Connemara National Park spans 2000 dramatic hectares of bog, mountain and heath. The visitor centre is in a beautiful setting off a parking area 300m south of the Letterfrack crossroads.
The park encloses a number of the Twelve Bens, including Bencullagh, Benbrack and Benbaun. The heart of the park is Gleann Mór (Big Glen), through which the River Polladirk flows. There's fine walking up the glen and over the surrounding mountains. There are also short, self-guided walks and, if the Bens look too daunting, you can hike up Diamond Hill nearby.
The visitor centre offers an introduction to the park's flora, fauna and geology, and visitors…
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Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
Sitting below sea level and protected by dikes, a la Holland, this vast natural area protects a bird habitat and has an observation tower, assorted hides and a visitor centre with detailed exhibits. The name Slobs may not sound inspiring (the name derives from the Irish slab, meaning 'mud, mire or a soft-fleshed person'), but the reserve inspires awe among birdwatchers. Each winter, it's home to one-third of the world's population of Greenland white-fronted geese – some 10,000 in total. Winter is also a good time to spot the brent goose from Arctic Canada.
From Wexford, head north for 3km on the R741 towards Dublin and take the signposted right-hand turn; the visitor cen…
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Travertines
The highlight of Pamukkale is the network of saucer-shaped travertines that wind down the powder-white mountain like a staircase built for a giant. To wander around you must take off your footwear – a security guard will furiously blow his whistle at you if you do not do so. Try wearing a pair of old socks if your soles are tender – some small stones are quite jagged. It's best to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and the shimmering sun that bounces off the bleached stone.
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Rockfield Ecological Estate
This secluded organic farm is set around a beautiful Georgian house and runs crafts courses and arts events as well as farm tours. To get here head north 24km of Mullingar along the N4 to Rathowen from where the farm is signposted.
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Ramsey Island
Ramsey Island lies off the headland to the west of St Davids, ringed by dramatic sea cliffs and an offshore armada of rocky islets and reefs. The island is an RSPB reserve famous for its large breeding population of choughs – members of the crow family with glossy black feathers and distinctive red bills and legs – and for its grey seals.
You can reach the island by boat from the tiny harbour at St Justinian's, 2 miles west of St Davids. Longer boat trips run up to 20 miles offshore, to the edge of the Celtic Deep, to spot whales, porpoises and dolphins. What you'll see depends on the weather and the time of year: July to September are the best months. Porpoises are se…
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Murlough National Nature Reserve
Footpaths and boardwalks meander among the grassy dunes, with great views back towards the Mournes.
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Great Orme Country Park
From sea level it's difficult to gauge the sheer scale of the Great Orme, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The peak is home to several Neolithic sites, a cornucopia of flowers, butterflies and sea birds, three waymarked summit trails (of which the Haulfre Gardens Trail is the easiest stroll to negotiate) and its own visitor centre with picnic tables, a cafe and a gift shop.
You can walk to the summit; take the Great Orme Tramway, which leaves every 20 minutes from Church Walks; or ride Britain's longest cable car from the Happy Valley Gardens above the pier – departures are weather dependent.
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Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve
The 300-hectare ancient woodland lining Glengarriff's glacial valley was owned by the White family of Bantry House in the 18th century. The thick tree cover maintains humid conditions that allow ferns and mosses to flourish.
The woodlands and bogs are also home to Ireland's only arboreal ant and the rare and protected Kerry slug. If you're lucky (have camera ready so you can share your slug with friends and family), you'll see these spotty cream-coloured gastropods on the lichen carpet munching after rainfall.
There are four marked trails through the reserve, separately covering woodland, mountain, river and meadow, and you can combine them to form one big walk (8.5km, thre…
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Castle Espie Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre
The Castle Espie reserve is a haven for huge flocks of geese, ducks and swans – around 30,000 light-bellied brent geese (75% of the world's population) spend the winter here – and is a paradise for fledgling ornithologists.
The new visitor centre is a showcase for sustainable development, and the landscaped grounds are dotted with hides for observing waders and waterfowl, as well as the centre's important collection of duck and goose species from all over the world. The best times to visit are in May and June, when the grounds are overrun with goslings, ducklings and cygnets, and October, when the vast flocks of brent geese begin to arrive from Arctic Canada.
The centre…
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Noup Head
The RSPB reserve at Noup Head, at the northwestern tip Westray, is a dramatic area of seacliffs which attracts vast numbers of breeding seabirds from April to July. There are big puffin colonies, plus fulmars, skuas and other familiar species, and you can often see dozens of seals hauled out on the sloping skerries to the north of the headland.
You can walk to Noup Head along the clifftops from a parking area near Bis Geos hostel, passing the impressive chasm of Ramni Geo, and return via the lighthouse access road (4 miles, allow two to three hours).
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